10 things you didn’t know about the background characters in the iconic 'Star Wars' cantina scene

In continuation of our on-going series, “Star Wars” Rewind, in which we look back on all of the movies from the saga leading up to “Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens” (out December 18), we’ve now hit the one that started it all, “Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.”

George Lucas’ sci-fi destiny was forged when the film opened in May of 1977 and essentially launched the summer blockbuster.

One moment in the film that’s always fun to go back and analyze is when Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) enter the Mos Eisley cantina in search of a pilot to take them to Alderaan. There they meet Han Solo (Harrison Ford), so obviously going into the cantina was worthwhile.

But Kenobi wasn’t joking when he told Luke that in Mos Eisley, “You’ll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.”

Let’s look back on ten interesting characters who were in the cantina the day Luke and Obi-Wan walked in.

1. Ackmena The Bartender

Lucasfilm

The nightshift at the cantina was overseen by Ackmena. We saw her in the now infamous "Star Wars Holiday Special" played by "Golden Girls" great Bea Arthur. Legend has it the day Luke and Obi-Wan were in the cantina she was in the backroom.

Ackmena was more liked at the cantina than the bartender during the day...

2. Wuher The Bartender

StarWars.com/Lucasfilm

This gruff fellow is known for not allowing droids in the establishment and takes cover when a blaster is drawn.

3. BoShek

StarWars.com/Lucasfilm

This Corellian smuggler (who dabbled a little in The Force) is distinctly known for introducing Obi-Wan to the Millennium Falcon’s first mate, Chewbacca. But Obi-Wan and Luke would have been in good hands if BoShek decided to take them.

He set a new record for the Kessel Run before his meeting with the Jedi that day. Taking bragging rights from Solo and Chewbacca, who were the previous record holders. Though Solo still boasted his feat when he met Luke and Obi-Wan.

4. Dannik Jerriko

YouTube/Lucasfilm

This assassin and bounty hunter is remembered best for enjoying his hookah during the cantina scene. But according to "Star Wars" lore, he’s a species that feeds on the brains of other lifeforms and on that particular day had an interest in making Solo his next victim.

5. Cornelius Evazan

YouTube/Lucasfilm

Better known as “Doctor Evazan,” because he was a mad surgeon with an interest in experimenting on his patients, that hobby led to him to a death sentence on 12 systems. But he picked on the wrong kid when he ran into Luke at the cantina, as Obi-Wan ended his bullying ways when he whipped out his lightsaber.

6. Garouf Lafoe

YouTube/Lucasfilm

This free trader who spent his days shipping ice from Adriana to Tatooine was standing at the bar when Obi Wan took down Evazan...

He then was the one who left the cantina to tell a sand trooper standing outside what he witnessed.

Star Wars Wiki/Lucasfilm

7. Debnoli

StarWars.com/Lucasfilm

A smuggler and bounty hunter who frequented the cantina, Debnoli held a grudge against the Galactic Empire for impounding his ship.

7. Danz Borin

StarWars.com/Lucasfilm

If you look hard enough you’ll find this patron in the space helmet. It’s not certain if he couldn’t breath in the Tatooine atmosphere or this was a style choice, what we do know is Danz always bragged about being a top-flight pilot.

9. Karolyn D’ulin and Shada D’ukal

StarWars.com/Lucasfilm

These two mercenaries from the Mistryl Shadow Guard ended up on Tatooine while on the run from the Empire after stealing a prototype of the Death Star’s superlaser. They were in the cantina, disguised as con artists the Tonnika sisters, with the hopes of finding a freighter to help them transport the prototype laser.

10. Jenny

YouTube/Lucasfilm

Known to hang around the cantina with an eye for pilots, early test footage from “A New Hope” shows her kissing Solo before Luke and Obi-Wan show up to his table. Jenny’s smooch with Han was cut, but the test footage has surfaced on the internet.